US3391878A

US3391878A - Expansible mandrel

Info

Publication number: US3391878A
Application number: US634433A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas G Naccara
Original assignee: Cameron Machine Co
Current assignee: Somerset Technologies Inc; Cameron Machine Co
Priority date: 1967-04-25
Filing date: 1967-04-25
Publication date: 1968-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1985-07-09
Also published as: BE714200A

Description

AIN. G. NAccARA 3,391,878

EXPANS IBLE MANDREL July 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1967 INVENTOR: NRCHOLAS G7 NACCARA ATTORNEY July 9, 1968 N. G. NACCARA EXPANSIBLE MANDREL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1967 INVENTOR:

NICHOLAS G. NACCARA ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,391,878 EXPANSIBLE MANDREL Nicholas G. Naccara, Hewitt, NJ., assignor to Cameron Machine Company, Dover, NJ., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 2S, 1967, Ser. No. 634,433 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-72) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Plural buttons, extending radially outwardly through holes in a cylindrical shell to provide an expansion effect, are urged outwardly by an inflatable tube which is part of a readily insertable and removable unit including also end, tube carriers and an internal tube support. The ends of the tube are secured fluid-tightly between threaded outer surfaces of the tube carriers which engage the inside of the tube, and annular tooth-like ridges of inner surfaces of tube retaining sleeves which engage the outside of the tube.

Background of the invention and prior art Expansible mandrels are commonly employed in machines for winding and unwinding rolls of web material, the mandrel being expanded in a roll core (not shown) to tightly engage the Core internally. Upon completion of a winding or unwinding operation, contraction of the mandrel permits its removal from the core. Satisfactory means have not hitherto been developed for providing such a readily insertable and removable tube unit; and means hitherto provided for supporting and closing the ends of such an inflatable tube have not been entirely satisfactory. Additionally, prior expansible mandrels employing springs for retraction of the buttons have not provided for external removal of both the buttons and the springs to facilitate servicing. Also, the prior art provides no satisfactory means for readily converting a button type of expansible mandrel to a leaf type having relatively broad outer leaves which are movable radially outwardly to increase the effective diameter of the mandrel.

Summary of the invention An assembly of an inflatable tube, for pressing buttons outwardly to expand the mandrel, tube carrying members connected to Opposite ends of the tube, one of said members having an air passage to permit ination of the tube, and a rigid, internal tube support, engaging both said members, constitute a unit which is readily insertable into and removable from a rigid cylindrical shell to facilitate assembly and service of the mandrel. Both the buttons and springs for retracting the buttons are accessible from the exterior of the mandrel for removal for servicing, and the buttons are adaptable to receive outer leaves as expanding parts of the mandrel. The invention also includes an arrangement wherein the opposite ends of the tube are secured fluid-tightly between threaded portions of the tube carrying members extending within the tube and annular tooth-like ridges of inner surfaces of tube retaining sleeves which engage the outside of the tube.

Brief description of the drawing ln the accompanying drawing, employed without limitation as illustrative of this invention:

FIG. l is a central longitudinal sectional view of a preferred form of expansible mandrel according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. l; the parts being as when the man drel is in normal or non-expanded condition;

,39L873 Patented July 9, 1968 ice FIG. 3 is a View at the same line as in FIG. 2; the parts, however, being as when the mandrel is in expanded condition;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. l; the parts being as when the mandrel is in normal or non-expanded condition;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, perspective illustration of a leaf-type modification employing relatively broad leaves as outer expanding members;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views of the outer-leaf type of mandrel shown in FIG. 5; these views, respectively, being somewhat similar in general character to FIGS. 2 and 4, except that, in FIG. 7, the mandrel appears as in expanded condition rather than in its nonexpanded condition of FIG. 4.

Description of the preferred embodiments The first embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1 4, comprises a rigid, cylindrical shell 10, having journals 12 and 14 at its opposite ends, iixedly connected to the shell by set screws 16 and 18.

Within the shell 10 is a circular series of equally spaced, relatively rigid, longitudinal inner leaves 20 of arcuate cross section, four such leaves being shown in said series. These leaves may either be single pieces, as illustrated, extending throughout the greater part of the distance between the journals 12 and 14 or each may be of two or more pieces approximately equaling the length of such a single piece leaf.

The inner leaves 2% are sometimes hereinafter referred to as button carriers, for plural buttons 22 are suitably fixed thereto at suitable plural points therealong and extend into button holes 24 formed, in radial register therewith, in the shell 19.

Within the circular series of button carriers 20 extends a unitary assembly 25 of an iniiatable tube 26 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, tube carrying members 28 and 36 to inner portions of which opposite ends of the tube are similarly air-tightly fixed by being tightly squeezed between retaining sleeves 32 having inner, annular tooth-like ridges 32a embedded in the outer surface of the tube, and threaded portions 28a and 30a of the members 28 and 3i) which are threaded with a squeeze iit into the tube and into internally threaded portions 32h of sleeves 32 at the latters outer ends.

The apexes of ridges 32a are preferably directed toward the outer extremity of the adjacent end portion of the tube 26 to give greater assurance against the ends of said tube becoming dislodged from engagement Iwith the sleeves 32 and the threaded portions 28a and 30a of the members 23 and 36 when the tube is inated.

The assembly 25 also includes a relatively rigid supporting rod illustrated as a tube support 34, extending closely within the tube 26 when the latter is in normal non-inflated condition, with the opposite ends 36 of said rod seated firmly within complemental recesses 38 formed in the inner ends of the tube carrying members 28 and 3i) to space the latter precisely from each other. The tube support 34 also serves to oppose inward collapse of the tube Z6 upon deflation of the latter and, if the tube support 34 is solid :as illustrated, said support also enables the tube to be inflated rapidly by limiting the volume of air which may be introduced thereinto.

When the tube 26 is deflated and supported by the support 34, the buttons 22 extend radially outwardly, substantially into the holes 24 to hold the button carriers 20 in their proper operating positions. The buttons are of such length that, upon radially outward movement of said button carriers upon iniiation of the tube 26 as shown in FIG. 3, the buttons extend beyond the outer surface of the shell 10, thereby increasing the effective diameter of the mandrel.

Subsequent :deation of the tube 26 may enable the buttons 22 to recede to their retracted positions as in FIG. 2, but it is preferred that forceful button retracting means be provided. Such retracting means are shown as plural compressed coil springs 40, each seated at its inner end upon an outer surface of a related button carrier 2i), preferably within a `depression 42 formed in said button carrier, and held within a related spring opening 44 -by `a peened-in plate or plug 46. A plurality of such springs are provided for each button carrier 20, the spring openings 44 yand springs therein being suitably located in symmetrical relation to that `,button carrier to apply button retraction force to the latter substantially uniformly therealong.

Each button 22 comprises :a headed nut 48 (FIG. 2) having its shank extending outwardly into a hole 5t! in a related button carrier and a cup-like body member 52 held with its lbottom against the outer end of said nut by a stud bolt 54. The stud bolts head is within an outer end cup recess in the body member 52 and the bolts shank extends through a hole 56 in the bottom of the ybody member 52 and is threaded tightly into the nut 48. The stud bolt 54 is accessible from the exterior of the mandrel to permit easy removal and replacement of the body 52 when necessary.

The plugs 46 holding the springs 40 in place are removable for replacement of springs as may be necessary by inserting a suitable pulling tool into a hole which may be drilled in :a plug, whereafter the plug m-ay be pulled from the shell 10 to permit spring removal and replacement. It will be seen that the springs 40, as with the principal parts of the buttons 22, are readily removable for servicing from the exterior of the mandrel.

An air pipe 58, into which air may -be introduced through a releasable check valve 60 at the open end of journal 14, extends within a bore 62 in the latter and 'is airtightly fixed at its inner end into a longitudinal bore 64 in the right, tube carrying member 30. The bore 64 communicates with a cross-'bore 66 in the member 30 to carry air into the rubber tube 26 to inate the latter.

When the tube 26 is inflated, the button carriers 20 and their related lbuttons 22 are forced radially outwardly to eifect expansion of the mandrel, and the check valve 60 holds the air in the tube during the period of time in which expansion of the mandrel is to be maintained. Subsequent release of the valve 60 permits the tube to become ldetiated, thus permitting the button carriers and their related buttons to retract to restore the mandrel to its non-expanded condition. The springs 40 serve as means operative directly upon the button carriers to afford greater assurance of such button retraction.

Although the rigid tube support 34 is indicated as preferably Ibeing of solid plastic material, it may be of other rigid material and need not necessarily be solid. Thus, it may be hollow, with an air-impervious wall, in which arrangement it will function similarly to the disclosed solid plastic arrangement. Moreover, if it is desired to employ a greater volume of air to inflate the rubber tube 26, the rigid tube support 34 may be hollow with its Wall perforated to permit =air to'iind its Way into said tube support; or the latter may be of rigidbut open-cellular material.

In assembling the illustrated mandrel, the unitary assembly 25 is completely formed, independently of other parts of the mandrel, by sliding the tube support 34 into the rubber tube 26, and sliding the retaining sleeves 32 onto the opposite ends lof the tube. Then, the left and right

tube carrying members

28 and 30 are threaded into opposite ends of the rubber tube thereby seating the ends of the tube support 34 in the recesses 38 of said members.

lEither before or after formation of the unitary assembly 25, the left end (as illustrated) of the shell 10 is secured by set screws 16 (only one being shown) to the journal 12, and the button carriers 20, with the |buttons 22 Iaflixed thereto, are slid into the then open end of the shell and lare pushed and suitably held radially outwardly with the buttons extending into related holes 24 in the shell.

Preferably at this point, the air pipe 58, with the valve thereon, is threaded tightly into the end of the bore 64 in the member Sil, whereafter the right journal 14 is slid onto the outer end of the member 30 and fixed thereon by set screws 68 (only one Ibeing shown).

Next, the entire, unified assembly 25, with the related journal 14 and the air pipe 58, are pushed into the then open right end of the shell, interiorly of the button carriers 2t), until the left member 28 of the assembly firmly abuts the inner end of the journal 12, whereafter, with the tube support 34 tightly held between

members

28 and 30, the assembly is locked into place in the shell by set screws 18 (only one being shown).

The second embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, differs from the above-described first embodiment chieliy in the addition of elongate, external, expanding leaves 78 of arcuate shape in cross-section. FIG. 5 diagrammatically discloses only the shell 10 and the leaves 70 to show clearly the relationship between those parts.

The leaves 70 are of such width that their side edges 72 come very close together when the mandrel is in contracted condition. Said leaves are connected to the inner leaves 20 by countersink-headed bolts 74 extending through countersunk holes 76 in the leaves 70', thence, through spacer sleeves 78 and into the headed nuts 48 into which they are tightly threaded.

Under some conditions a user of the leaf type mandrel of the second embodiment might wish to convert it to a button type mandrel or vice versa. Such a conversion is easily accomplished from the exterior of the device by removing the bolts 74, sleeves 78 and the leaves 70, substituting for them the member 52 and the bolt 54 of the first embodiment.

As, with relatively slight changes in

parts

52, 54 of FIG. 2 external leaves 70 could be applied thereto and/ or with relatively slight changes in parts 74, 78 of FIG. 6, those parts could be given the character of buttons, it may properly be considered that the leaves 70 are mounted upon series of buttons.

It will be realized that the mandrel of the second embodiment, much like that of the lirst embodiment is easily serviced as to the external leaves 70 andthe springs 40, without the necessity of removing either of the journals or any of the parts located within the shell 10.

Those familiar with the subject art will understand that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be utilized in various other ways Withoutrdeparting from the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an expansible web-Winding mandrel having a rigid, cylindrical shell, journals fixed to opposite ends of the shell, plural, elongate button carriers arranged in a circular series within said shell, plural buttons fixed to said carriers and projecting radially outwardly into series of holes in said shell extending longitudinally of the latter, and expanding means within said series of button carriers for pressing said carriers radially outwardly to project portions of said buttons outwardly beyond the outer surface of said shell; the improvement comprsing an arrangement in which said expanding means compirses a unitary assembly including an inflatable, resilient tube, tube carrying members fluid-tightly connected to opposite ends of said tube and held concentcally in engagement with inner end portions of said journals, and a rigid, elongate supporting rod Within said tube having end portions in end to end engagement with inner end portions of said tube carrying members; one of said members being formed with a lluid carrying passage opening into said tube and being accessible from the exterior of the mandrel for injection of uid into the tube; the improvement further including plural coil springs coacting with said button carriers to urge the latter radially inwardly, said springs being disposed within spring holes in said shell with their inner ends bearing against related button carriers, and said spring holes having plugs therein, removable from the exterior of the shell, and in retaining engagement with said springs at the latters outer ends; and said buttons being adapted for removal from the mandrel from the exterior of the shell whereby to facilitate servicing with respect to both the buttons and the springs.

2. In an expansible web-winding mandrel having a rigid, cylindrical shell, journals fixed to opposite ends of the shell, plural, elongate button carriers arranged in a circular series Within said shell, plural buttons fixed to said carriers and projecting radially outwardly into series of holes in said shell extending longitudinally of the latter, and expanding means within said series of button carriers for pressing said carriers radially outwardly to project portions of said buttons outwardly beyond the outer surface of said shell; the improvement comprising an arrangement in which said expanding means comprises a unitary assembly including an inflatable, resilient tube, tube carrying members fluid-tightly connected to opposite ends of said tube and held concentrically in engagement with inner end portions of said journals, and a rigid, elongate supporting rod within said tube having end portions in end to end engagement with inner end portions of said tube carrying members; one of said members being formed with a uid carrying passage opening into said tube and being -accessible from the exterior of the mandrel for injection of iluid into the tube; said buttons sach comprising a cuplike body member and a headed stud bolt extending through a hole in the bottom of said body member with the bolts head Within the body member and a threaded shank portion of the bolt threadedly connected to a related button carrier; the head of the bolt being exteriorly accessible to permit removal of the bolt yand the body member from the exterior of the mandrel.

3. In an expansible web-winding mandrel having a rigid, cylindrical shell, journals iixed to opposite ends of the shell, plural, elongate button carriers arranged in a circular series within said shell, plural buttons fixed to said carriers and projecting radially outwardly into series of holes in said shell extending longitudinally of the latter, and expanding means within said series of button carriers for pressing said carriers radially outwardly to project portions of said buttons outwardly beyond the outer surface of said shell; the improvement comprising an arrangement in which said expanding means comprises a unitary assembly including an inflatable, resilient tube, tube carrying members uid'tightly connected to opposite ends of said tube and held concentrically in engagement with inner end portions of said journals, and a rigid elongate supporting rod within said tube having end portions in end to end engagement with inner end .portions of said tube carrying members; one of said members being formed with a fluid carrying passage opening into said tube and being accessible from th @exterior of the mandrel for injection of iiuid into the tribe; said buttons each comprising a base member held to a related button carrier against radially outward movement relatively thereto, a main button member, and means rigidly inter-connecting the two latter members; the mandrel further including a circular series of elongate, transversely arcuate, outer leaves and means for rigidly securing said outer leaves to said buttons.

4. In an expansible web-winding mandrel having a rigid, cylindrical shell, journals iixed to opposite ends of the shell, plural, elongate button carriers arranged in a circular series within said shell, plural buttons fixed to said carriers and projecting radially outwardly into series of holes in said shell extending longitudinally of the latter, and expanding means within said series of button carriers for pressing said carriers radially outwardly to project portions of said buttons outwardly beyond the outer surface of said shell; the improvement comprising an arrangement in which said expanding means comprises a unitary assembly including an inatable, resilient tube, tube carrying members fluid-tightly connected to opposite ends of said tribe and held concentrically in engagement with inner end portions of said journals, and a rigid, elongate supporting rod Within said tube having end portions in end to end engagement with inner end portions of said tube carrying members; one of said members being formed with a uid carrying passage opening into said tube and being accessible from the exterior of the mandrel for injection of uid into the tube; the improvement further including similar connections for duid-tightly connecting said tube carrying members to opposite ends of the tube; each of said connections comprising a rigid retaining sleeve having an internally threaded outer end portion and an inner end portion extending about an adjacent end portion of the tube and provided with an inner annular ridge ernbedded in the outer surface ofthe tube, and the related tube carrying member having an externally threaded portion, threaded through said threaded outer end portion of said sleeve and into the adjacent end portion of the tube into radial alignment with said ridge in position to squeeze the tubes said end portion between said ridge and said threaded portion ofthe sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,797,474 7/ 1957 Main 29-506 3,048,345 8/ 1962 Willard 242-72 3,127,124 3/l964 Tidland 242-72 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,042,372 10/ 195 S Germany.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

NATHAN L. MINTZ, Examiner.